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War Horse
2011 146 min United States of America, India PG-13 12+
★7.7
War, History, Adventure, Drama
Director: Steven Spielberg
📖 Based on the novel
«War Horse»
byMichael Morpurgo
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
On the brink of the First World War, Albert's beloved horse Joey is sold to the Cavalry by his father. Against the backdrop of the Great War, Joey begins an odyssey full of danger, joy, and sorrow, and he transforms everyone he meets along the way. Meanwhile, Albert, unable to forget his equine friend, searches the battlefields of France to find Joey and bring him home.
Budget:
$66M
US Gross:
$79.88M
Worldwide:
$177.58M
Starring
Jeremy Irvine
Actor
Emily Watson
Actor
David Thewlis
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 2012
— Best Picture (Drama)
Golden Globe 2012
— Best Original Score
Academy Awards 2012
— Best Sound Editing
BAFTA 2012
— Best Cinematography
Academy Awards 2012
— Best Original Score
Saturn Awards 2012
— Best Original Score
BAFTA 2012
— Best Sound
BAFTA 2012
— Best Visual Effects
BAFTA 2012
— Best Original Score
Saturn Awards 2012
— Best Action/Adventure Film
Academy Awards 2012
— Best Picture
Academy Awards 2012
— Best Cinematography
Academy Awards 2012
— Best Production Design
Academy Awards 2012
— Best Sound
BAFTA 2012
— Best Production Design
Key opinion
War Horse is widely regarded as a visually stunning, large-scale cinematic achievement that leans heavily into Steven Spielberg’s signature sentimental style. While many viewers are moved by its themes of loyalty and humanity, others find the narrative overtly manipulative and too simplistic for its wartime setting.
| Cinematography | The film features impeccable production design and breathtaking cinematography that captures the beauty of the landscape and the intensity of battle. | |
| Acting | The performances, particularly from the ensemble cast and the horses themselves, are praised for providing emotional weight and depth to the story. | |
| Score | The musical score by John Williams is consistently noted as a standout element that enhances the film’s atmospheric and emotional quality. | |
| Screenplay | The script is a point of contention: some appreciate its moral clarity and focus on hope, while others criticize it as predictable, childish, and lacking in realistic character development. | |
| Emotion | The film’s reliance on overt sentimentality divides audiences; supporters see it as a powerful, tear-jerking humanist statement, while detractors view it as a cold and manipulative exercise in emotional engineering. | |
| Runtime | The nearly 2.5-hour runtime is polarized, with some viewers finding the pacing perfectly engaging, while others feel the length makes the film feel overlong and self-indulgent. |